19-year-olds each sentenced to 50 years in fatal beating

James Alon Shorter, 19,sits while being sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. He and Yarvon Nathanial Russell,19, were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

Yarvon Nathanial Russell,19, sits while being sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. He and James Alon Shorter, 19, were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

James Shorter addresses the court prior to being sentenced for second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. At left is his attorney, Aaron Siebrecht. Shorter received the mandatory 50 year sentence. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

Yarvon Nathanial Russell, 19, was sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. He and James Alon Shorter, 19, were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

James Alon Shorter, 19, looks back to family after being sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. He and Yarvon Nathanial Russell,19, were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

Judge Douglas Staskal sentences Yarvon Nathanial Russell and James Alon Shorter, both 19, to a mandatory 50 year sentence Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. Both men were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh. (Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

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Yarvon Nathaniel Russell, 19, was sentenced to a mandatory 50 years in prison Friday at the Polk County Courthouse. He and James Alon Shorter, 19, were convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh.(Photo: Christopher Gannon/The Register)

James Alon Shorter tried to comfort his family after he was sentenced Friday for his role in last year's beating death of a Des Moines man.

"Don't cry, y'all," he said to his mother, Lynsi Baker, 40, and others as he was being led from the courtroom on Friday.

Shorter and Yarvon Nathaniel Russell, both 19, were sentenced to spend up to 50 years in prison. They were found guilty in May of second-degree murder in the Aug. 25 beating death of Richard Daughenbaugh.

"It's sad to sentence two young individuals to such lengthy incarcerations, but the jury's verdict is supported by the evidence," Judge Douglas Staskal said during the sentencing hearing. "The punishment is warranted by the nature of the offense — a human life was taken unnecessarily."

The defendants' families and friends cried after Staskal announced the sentences.

Baker and Russell's mother, Yvonne Young, 43, both told the Register that they thought their sons' trial was unfair.

The mothers said they believe there was not enough evidence to convict their sons. Baker said prosecutors were trying to "lock up everybody and anybody."

"I don't understand how they can charge these kids with murder," Baker said. "Nobody knows the facts. No one is being consistent."

Witnesses of the attack "are afraid to step up," Young said. She urged those who saw the beating to come forward.

Young and Baker both said their sons plan to appeal the verdict.

"I'm not going to sit around and have our kids sit in jail," Young said.

Shorter and Russell must serve 70 percent of their sentences before they are eligible for parole. Russell must also serve two years for carrying weapons and five years for carrying weapons on school grounds.

Shorter, Russell and Kent Anthony Tyler III, 18, have all been found guilty in Daughenbaugh's fatal beating. Prosecutors said Shorter and Russell punched, kicked and stomped Daughenbaugh after he was knocked to the ground in a parking lot near Wells Fargo Arena by Tyler.

A jury found Shorter and Russell guilty of second-degree murder in May. Their co-defendant, Le'Prese Derrion Williams, 21, was acquitted on a first-degree murder charge at the trial.

Tyler was found guilty of second-degree murder in December; he was sentenced to serve up to 50 years in prison. Tyler must serve 70 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.

At Friday's sentencing, Russell's and Shorter's attorney asked for a new trial based on new evidence the defense obtained including finding a witness who said Russell and Shorter were not involved in the attack.

Staskal ruled against the request, saying the defense failed to show that they could not have gotten the evidence before the verdict.

"Additionally, the court does not believe this evidence, even if it were presented, would have probably changed the result of the trial," Staskal said.